Non-life insurance (DO)

Verified 17 September 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)

You must take out damage insurance (DO) before a company opens a project to build, extend or renovate a building. It takes care of damages that appear within 10 years after receiving works. We're taking stock of the regulations.

Damage insurance (DO) covers the payment of the entire works for repairing damage under the the ten-year guarantee.

It makes it possible to finance, apart from any search for liability, the repair of damage which compromises the solidity of the structure or which prevents its normal use by making it unsuitable for its use. destination. The insurer DO then takes care of turning against the responsible parties and their insurers.

DO insurance covers claims covered under the ten-year guarantee.

It ensures the damage and defects that affect the solidity of the structure and that make it uninhabitable or unfit for the use for which it is intended (significant cracks, roof collapse...).)

DO insurance also covers damage that affects the solidity of equipment elements inseparable from viability, foundation, frame, enclosure and roof structures (pipe, ceiling, floor, central heating, door frame, recessed electrical installation, recessed pipe...).) These elements cannot be removed, dismantled or replaced without damaging the construction.

Warning  

Do not cover damage caused by:

  • Intentional or dol the policyholder or the insured
  • Effects of normal wear and tear, lack of maintenance or abnormal use
  • Foreign cause: force majeure, made by a third party or through contracting authority.

DO insurance is mandatory. You must subscribe as an individual or professional, if you are:

  • Owner of the work
  • Trustee of the owner of the structure
  • Syndic of condominium
  • Seller
  • Promoter real estate.

You must take out DO insurance before the start of works of major building or renovation (for example, structural modifications of a building, exterior structural works, foundations, earthworks, renovation intended to ensure the waterproofing of a building..).)

Please note

When a sale takes place, within 10 years of receipt of building works, DO insurance is passed on to the new owner. For this purpose, the deed of sale mentions the existence of the insurance and the certificate of insurance is appended thereto.

The DO insurance can be taken out with the insurer of your choice.

Before the opening of the site, you must request the certificate of ten-year guarantee as well as the contact details of the insurer of the professional. These elements will be useful to you in the event of a claim or dispute.

If no insurer wants to insure the construction, you can as contracting authority refer the matter to the Central Pricing Office (BCT). The insurer will set the price of the DO insurance with the insurer you have chosen.

Who shall I contact

  • By phone

    +33 (0)1 53 21 50 40

    From 9am to 11:45am

    By courier

    bct@agira.asso.fr

    By post

    26 boulevard Haussmann

    75311 Paris cedex 09

Please note

Non-subscription of compulsory insurance is a offense punishable by 6 months' imprisonment and a fine of €75,000 at most or one of these 2 sentences only.

These penalties do not apply to an individual building a dwelling to occupy it himself or for a member of his family, nor to legal persons under public law.

DO insurance begins to cover claims at the end of the guarantee of perfect completion (GPA), that is to say 1 year after receipt of work.

During this 1era Year, the contractor must repair the defects reported.

DO insurance can pay for repairs before the end of this year in 2 situations:

Before receiving the work:

You give formal notice the contractor to complete the works or repair the disorders. If they don't, you terminate the contract because they didn't meet their obligations. In this case, DO insurance can cover repairs.

After receiving the work:

During the guarantee of perfect completion (GPA), you report disorders to the contractor, you send him a formal notice. If it does not make the repairs, DO insurance can intervene and finance the works.

As soon as you become aware of the loss, you must comply with the reporting period set out in your contract. The delay cannot be less than 5 working days.

You can send your declaration to your insurer by letter RAR: titleContent, by electronic submission RAR or against receipt.

You can use a template:

Declare a claim to the property and casualty insurer

In the event of a claim arising after the sale of the immovable property, it is the purchaser, as the beneficiary of the DO insurance, who must initiate the procedure by bringing the matter before the insurer.

Warning  

You must notify your insurer of the loss within 2 years of the occurrence or knowledge of the damage. After this period, you can no longer exercise your right to compensation.

The insurer must implement the DO insurance by respecting different deadlines. They count themselves in calendar days.

When a deadline ends on a Saturday, Sunday or a public holiday or non-working day, it shall be extended until 1er business day next.

These deadlines start on the day of receipt of your claim by the insurer.

Instruction of the file

Upon receipt of your claim, the insurer has 10 calendar days to claim the missing information.

Upon receipt of your complete claim, he has 60 calendar days to have the damage assessed, to communicate the report of the expert and you notify if the insurance covers your claim.

Warning  

For damage estimated to be less than €1,800, the intervention of the expert is not mandatory and the insurer has 15 calendar days to answer you.

Declaration of loss investigated out of time

If the DO insurer does not comply with the 60 calendar days to process your declaration, you can commit the necessary works. You must inform him by registered letter or by electronic registered mail with acknowledgement of receipt. He can no longer dispute the nature of the disorders declared and he must compensate you.

You can use a template to notify your insurer:

Inform your insurer of the repairs incurred following a claim

The compensation due shall be increased by an interest equal to twice the legal interest rate.

Proposal for compensation

The DO insurer must present you with an offer of compensation within a maximum period of 90 calendar days from the receipt of the declaration of loss. None deductible cannot remain at your expense.

When the insurer does not meet this deadline, you can after having notified to the insurer, incur the expenses necessary to repair the damage.

The compensation due shall be increased by an interest equal to twice the legal interest rate.

Warning  

The offer must be made within 15 calendar days for claims estimated to be less than €1,800.

Refusal of compensation

Upon receipt of your complete claim, your insurer has 15 calendar days for you notify that he considers that the implementation of the guarantee is unjustified and that he will not compensate you.

You have the choice to accept or refuse the compensation offer.

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You accept the compensation offer

Compensation must be paid within 15 years calendar days.

If your insurer does not meet this deadline, you can notify that you incur the expenses necessary to repair the damage. The compensation paid by the insurer is then increased by an interest equal to twice the legal interest rate.

The compensation will be used only for the actual rehabilitation of the building or land on which it is located. The insurer may ask you to justify the amount of repair works you have made.

You feel the supply is insufficient

If you feel that the compensation proposal is insufficient and that repairs cannot wait, you can request an advance from your insurer pending the resolution of the dispute.

This lump sum advance, at least equal to 3/4 of the amount of the proposed compensation, shall be credited to the final amount of the compensation to be paid by the insurer.

It is paid in one installment by the insurer within a maximum period of 15 calendar days current from the receipt of your mail.

You can incur the necessary works after notifying the insurer by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, for example by using the following template:

Inform your insurer of the repairs incurred following a claim

You can demand from the insurer the payment of an interest equal to twice the legal interest rate.

Warning  

In the case of exceptional difficulties due to the nature or thesignificance of the claim, the insurer may, at the same time as notified its agreement, propose the setting of an additional period for the establishment of its compensation offer. The proposal based on technical grounds is subject to your written agreement.

This period may not exceed 135 calendar days.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • For any questions about your home

    Departmental Agency for Housing Information (Adil)

  • In case of dispute with the contractor

    Are you having a problem following a purchase? Do you have a question about a point of law before buying or ordering?

    You can get an answer from an agent of the DGCCRF: titleContent by calling the 0809,540,550.

    Opening hours of the service:

    Number not overtaxed

    • Monday and Tuesday: from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 1.15pm to 5.15pm
    • Wednesday: 1:15 pm to 5:15 pm
    • Thursday: from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
    • Friday: from 8:30 am to 4 pm

  • In case of dispute with the insurer

    Info Bank - Insurance